Ofsted Praises Local Foster Company

A local foster company has received its latest Ofsted report - and is hoping it inspires more local people to help them address the current North West foster care crisis.

modus, an independent foster agency based in Bolton, has just received its Ofsted report, which praised the quality of support given to foster carers by the company.

Among its comments, the report said: "This is a good service with outstanding aspects. The agency is child-focussed and prioritises support and supervision of foster carers to ensure that children's and young people's holistic needs are met to a high standard."

The agency, which was recently granted Tier One status on the North West Fostering Contract, is now among the first to be contacted for any placements of children across the region - but desperately needs more carers to come forward to help them provide homes to these young people in need.

"Providing a quality service, not only to the children in our care, but also to the foster parents who provide them with a safe and loving home, is top of our agenda, and we're hoping other people who might be considering fostering will look at the feedback given to us by Ofsted and will think about coming forward.

"The North West, and the rest of the UK too, is in the midst of a foster care crisis with more children requiring care than parents available to look after them.

"I really do think that many people are put off coming forward to become a carer because of preconceived stereotypes that exist about what a carer should be, but at modus we have foster parents from all different walks of life - single people and couples, old and young, and from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.

Ofsted acknowledged modus' promotion of equality and diversity, which is reflected in the variety of backgrounds their carers come from: "The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Young people's religious, ethnic and linguistic needs are being met and foster carers are equipping themselves with relevant information through a variety of sources."

Sue added: "Anyone can become a foster carer if they really want to. It's about having a drive and determination to try something new in life, and most importantly to want to provide a safe and loving home for children and young people across the region."

For more information on becoming a foster carer, or to find out more about modus, call 01204 399514 or visit http://www.moduscom.org.uk/

Ends

Notes to editors

Modus was set up in 2002 to provide high quality, co-ordinated childcare services for looked-after children and young people

Through exceptional training and ongoing support, it helps families to provide environments in which young people can safely achieve their potential

Modus provides foster families across the whole of North West England

Modus also runs a small residential home in West Yorkshire, Cross Lee House, for up to five children who display varying degrees of emotional and behavioural difficulty